Automobile wrecking clamp



June 26, 1928. 1,675,106

A. C. KAPLAN AUTOMOBILE WRECKING CLAMP Filed June 25, 1925 bzvenibz' fllaz 'anderalia alau Patented June 26, 1928.

ALEXANDER C. KAPLAN, OF ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMOBILE wnncxme. CLAMP.

Application filed June 25, 1525. fseria1 No. 39,603.

- This invention relates to; towing appli-j' ances for automobiles, and consists 1n the,

novel construction, combination and, relation has broken down. The usual practice is to jack up the rear-wheels and tow the crippled car backwards with its front wheels, however, running on the ground. The steer ing of a car towed in this manner presents considerable difficulty, and it is therefore the object of my invention to provide a simple, quick-detachable device adapted to be connected withv the steering gear; of the towed car. which will overcome th1s chili? culty. I

This object, together with certam other features of advantage, is secured in the device of the present invention. The construction and operation of a characteristic embodiment of my device will now be de: scribed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an edge view of a towing appliance in accordance with my invention at-' tached to the front axle and steering rod of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a detail of the steering rod clamp.

I have indicated at 1 the front axle and at 2 the usual steering rod which connects the steering knuckles of an automobile.

My towing appliance consists of a pair of spaced axle clamping members 3 and 4 adapted to straddle the axle 1, as shown in Fig. 1, and adjustably connected ,to each other by a pair of bolts 5 which engage the top and bottom faces of the axle when the device is applied thereto. The heads of the bolts are lodged in the member 3 and the member 4: is longitudinally slotted, as indicated at 6, 6, to receive the free ends of said bolts. Coiled about the bolts between the members 3 and 4 is a pair of compression springs 7, and the free ends of the bolts are provided with wing or other clamp nuts 8 by means of which the member 4 may be set up against the axle.

This construction permits snug application of theiclamp to axles of varyingsizes quickly.and with the maximum ease Themember3 isformed as a yoke to the ears I of which pivoted centrallythereof at 9 a steering rodclamping bar 10. The bar 10 is longitudinally slotted towardsits this slotis the downturned heel 12 of an adjust-able clamping piece 13,.the toe end of which is bent angularly upon itself, as in dicatedat 14;, to define with the underlying bar 10, anopen-ended recess within which the steering rod 2 is lodged. The adjust ment of the clamping piece 13 in the slot 11 is held'by a clampingbolt 15. i

In use, the axle clamps 3 and 4 are fitted to the axle and the, clamping piece 13 adjusted longitudinally in theslot 11 until its V-shaped portion 14 engages and clamps the steering rod 2' against the underlying bar 10. The pivotal connection at 9 allows a certain amount of vertical play so that the device can automatically accommodate itself to road irregularities, as well as some latitude in adjusting the device to the axles and steering rods of the different makes of cars,

and this adjustment. plus the adjustment PAT NT 5 OFFICE.

free end, as indicated at 11, and playing-111i allowed by the axle clamps 3and 4 and the l i steering rod' clamps 10 and 13 makes the device practically universally adaptable.

Various modifications in the form and arrangement of parts may obviously be resorted to within the limits of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1; A' towing appliance for the front end 7 of an automobile, comprising a pair of axle clamping members adapted to straddle the front axle and adjustably connected to each other above and below the axle, one of said members formed as a yoke, a steering rod clampinglock pivoted at one end in said yoke, and a cooperating steering rod clamping lock mounted on said first-named steel ing rod clamping lock adjacent the outer end thereof for adjustment independently there of and independently of the adjustment of theaxle clamps.

2. A towing appliance for the front end of an automobile, comprising a pair of adjustable axle clamping members adapted to straddle the axle, bolts connecting said clamps above and below the axle, springs coiled about said bolts between said clamps, one of said clamps bein formed as a pivot bearing,

and a pair of ad ustable steeringrbd clamps, one of which ispivoted in said bearing.

3. A towing appliancei'or the front end of an automobile,comprising a pair of ad-, justable axle clamping members adapted to straddle the axle, bolts connecting said clamps above and below the axle, springs coiled about said bolts between said clamps, v

one of said clainps bein formed as a pivot bearing, a steering rod 0 amp pivoted in said bearing, and a cooperating, clamp adjustabl'y mounted on said pivoted clamp for adjustment independently thereof and effective therewith to clampthe steering rod therebetween. i

4. A towin appliance for the front end of an autorno ile, comprising an adjustable axleclamp, asteeiing rod clamping ha tpivoted thereto and a cooperating clamp adjustable longitudinally of said bar-independent- 1y thereofand having an angularly bent portion defining with said bar an open-ended recess for the reception of thesteering rod.

5. A towing appliance for the front end of an automobile, comprising an adjustable axle clamp, a steering rod clamping bar pivoted thereto and having a longitudinally exbearing and having a longitu tendin slot, a coo crating clamping piece adjusta le indepen ently of said bar and having a downtumed heel dispoeed in said slot and having an angularly bent portion defining withsaid ba-L' an open-ended recess for the reception of the steering rod and micansrfor-kheilqiling the adjustment of said clamping piece in said slot.

6. Atowi ngnmppiliance for the front end of an automobile, comprising a pair of adjustableaxleclainping members adapted to straddletheraxle, bolits connecting said elaipgs above and below the axle, springfl coil about said bolts between said clamps, one of said clamps beingfonn'ed asa pivot. bearing, a steering rod clamp F'voted in said inally extending slot, a cooperating clampingpieceadjustableindependently of said steerin :rod clamp and having a 'downturned hee disposed in said slot andhaving an angular ent portion definingiwith said pivoted steer+ ing rod c1amp, an-open-ended recess-biolthe reception of the steering 10d, and means for holding the adjustment of 7 said piece in said slot. v i v In testimony whereof I aflix'my signature.

ALEXANDERC. KAPLAN. 

